With the growing popularity of handheld devices nowadays, face recognition becomes the hottest technology after fingerprint authentication in response to the rising trading mechanism of mobile payment and mobile commerce to strengthen personal data protection. Face recognition technology is used to detect and to recognize user’s facial features which can unlock handheld devices and PCs and authorize on-line transactions while convenience and safety are guaranteed for users. The application of face recognition will gradually be introduced to mobile devices to replace the traditional password entry and to reinforce transaction security.

Plummeting LED bulb prices has been a major issue around the globe, and the brunt has been felt by Thai LED manufacturers in a way more than ever before. LED bulb and tube prices have fallen drastically over the past year, as much as 50% for LED T8 tube lights. With prices hitting rock bottom, growing number of LED manufacturers are switching to EMC models, according to LEDinside interviews at Ecolight Tech Asia 2015, which took place from Nov. 19-21, 2015 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Highlights this week: The India market’s demands for star labelled efficient products has doubled with falling prices and increased participation of private companies, as the country follows its commitment to lower carbon footprint ahead of climate change talks to take place in Paris later this month. Following Osram’s announcement last week that the company is to invest EUR 1 billion in a new Malaysia-based plant for LED chips, a leading investor in Osram expressed opposing opinions about Osram’s latest strategy. LEDinside’s analysts initial estimates that about 30% of the EUR 1 billion investment will go into constructing the factory, and probably 30% in chip processing while Osram might be investing around EUR 400 million in MOCVD equipment. ON Semiconductor and Fairchild Semiconductor announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for ON Semiconductor to acquire Fairchild for in an all cash transaction valued at approximately US $2.4 billion.

Authorities in Anhui, China reported seizing counterfeited Philips LED pendant lights from the local architectural material market. The luminaires labelled with Philips’s trademark were confirmed to be fake by officials of Royal Philips. Authorities found 236 counterfeited luminaires, worth RMB 20,000 (US $3,134).

Shortly after releasing the top 100 of China’s Rich List this year, Forbes followed up with the publication of Forbes List of China’s 400 richest.

LED manufacturers had an especially tough year in 2015. Despite rising LED lighting market demands, and large scale replacements of traditional luminaires, the oversupply situation in the market has caused average sales price (ASP) of LEDs to plunge 30% to 40%. Growing number of manufacturers have incurred heavy losses and exiting the market. With 2016 just around the corner, LEDinside Research Director Roger Chu has listed ten major trends in the market including future LED industry consolidations and technology trends. Listed below are five major trends observed by LEDinside’s analyst team:   1.     Easing LED market growth in the near future Due to the oversupply situation in the LED industry, LEDs ASP prices plunged. LEDinside estimates the global high brightness LED market value in 2015 will increase at an incremental rate of 2% to US $14.52 billion. Even though lighting demands spurred LED usage volume growth, ironically the increasingly energy efficient LEDs are reducing usage volume. Additionally, LEDs still are under immense pressure to further lower prices. Based on these observations, LEDinside projects in the next five years the LED industry Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is unlikely to reach more than 10% in the future.

As one of the biggest hotel brands in the world, Marriott International needed a headquarters to match the scale of its reputation and place in the hospitality industry. The Marriott International Headquarters was built in 1979 in Bethesda, Maryland. The 74,322 m2 (800,000 ft2) office building provides workspace for 3,000 employees daily. The lobby of this building was somewhat insignificant, small, and unattractive and needed an upgrade that would make the lobby more spacious, and add character and an inviting atmosphere where employees, designers, engineers, and potential business partners pass through daily.

Revolution Lighting Technologies , a leader in advanced LED lighting technology solutions, today announced that its operating division, Energy Source, recently completed two lighting retrofit projects, installing high efficiency LED lighting and control systems, totaling more than $4.75 million. Acquired by RVLT in August, Energy Source, LLC is a provider of turnkey energy savings solutions for LED lighting for the commercial, industrial, hospitality, retail, education, and municipal sectors.

Acuity Brands, Inc.​ announced newly enhanced LED luminaires for retail applications that incorporate ByteLight™ technology to create an ultra-precise indoor positioning and wayfinding system.

Noribachi, a leading U.S.-based custom LED manufacturer for high output commercial and industrial lighting solutions, introduces new DC-DC LED power supplies for all its Bespoke Engineered and Specifically Tailored (BEST) LED lighting fixtures.

Digital Lumens, the market leader in intelligent LED lighting systems, today unveiled software-driven automated life-safety testing and reporting capabilities for its intelligent industrial lighting fixtures with emergency lighting capabilities.

Returning to EcoLight Tech Asia 2015 show grounds for the second consecutive year, something was distinctively different at the show that runs from November 19 to 21 this year. The show hosted by NCC Exhibition Organizer and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) added two new energy saving technologies to its show this year—solar panels and air conditioning technologies. 

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. today introduced a new ceramic-based, high-power UV LED with silicone lens. Designed to provide a reliable, energy-saving replacement for mercury lamps, the Vishay Semiconductors VLMU5200-385-140 delivers an exceptionally long lifetime in a 5.2 mm by 5.2 mm by 3.1 mm surface-mount package for medical, industrial, and printing applications.

Following Osram’s announcement last week that the company is to invest EUR 1 billion in a new Malaysia-based plant for LED chips, a leading investor in Osram expressed opposing opinions about Osram’s latest strategy, reported Reuters.

The world’s largest exhibition for wearable device & technology, WEARABLE EXPO will take place from January 13 [Wed] to 15[Fri], 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight. It covers the latest forefront of wearable device and technology. The exhibition will gather 210 exhibitors, twice as manyexhibitors as the previous show.

The world’s leading exhibition & conference for LED/OLED technologies and lighting fixtures, LIGHTING JAPAN will take place from January 13 [Wed] to 15[Fri], 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight. Consists of two specialized shows, it covers all kinds of lighting fixtures and the most advanced LED/OLED technologies for various applications.    320 exhibitors - a 15% increase from last year’s show are expected to join for the 8th edition.

Key Transaction Highlights: Creates a leader in the power semiconductor market with a broad and deep product portfolio Highly complementary product lines offering the full spectrum of high, medium and low voltage products Strengthens presence in key strategic areas – industrial, automotive and smartphone end markets Immediately accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share and free cash flow Expect significant accretion to non-GAAP EPS within a few quarters post close Clear line of sight to $150 million in annual cost savings within 18 months of the transaction close

Noise is an issue in optical telecommunications. And findings means of controlling noise is key to physicists investigating light-emitting diodes or lasers. Now, an Italo-Iraqi team has worked on a particular type of light source, called the quantum dot light-emitting diode (QDLED). In a study published in EPJ D, Kais Al Namee from the National Institute of Optics, in Florence, Italy and colleagues, demonstrate that modulating bias current of the QDLED could lead to countering the noise. This, in turn, leads to stabilising such light sources, making them better suited for optical telecommunications.

Originally founded as a supplier of solar power hardware, Solar Leading is expanding its presence into the LED lighting sector under the brand name Senior LED. In conjunction with this announcement, Solar Leading is introducing a new LED street light that boasts industry-leading specifications and high-quality components.

Bulbrite, the Nostalgic experts, put the spotlight on innovation during the recent 2015 International Lighting Market in Dallas by introducing a series of new bulb varieties to help customers expand their designer offering including LED Filaments, LED True Shape PARs and Reflectors, Single & Multi Strand Starry Lights and the Nostalgic Centennial Bulb Replica.

Hubbell Lighting, a world leader in lighting innovation, announced today that Prescolite has added two new trims to the brand’s 5” LiteBox Surface Mount (LBSQ5LEDA-square, LBS5LEDA DG-drop glass) LED product line. Installing directly to a standard J-box, the 5” LiteBox Surface Mount fixture is the perfect alternative to recessed products in settings where plenum height is challenging or where fire codes restrict the use of recessed fixtures. Prescolite also announced today that it has added DMX dimming to its LF series LED downlight family.

GlacialLight, the lighting division of GlacialTech Inc., announces the addition of the GL-FL55 to its flood light series. Using the latest in LED lighting technology the GL-FL55 is able to output up to 6300 lumens using a mere 55W, providing up to 115 lumens per watt. Its high energy efficiency along with its rugged IP66 rated aluminum housing and versatile mounting options with the outdoor-ready mounting bracket capable of 360 degrees of adjustment and optional outdoor stake light bracket make the GL-FL55 the ideal choice for a wide range of indoor and outdoor retail, commercial, and industrial external lighting applications.

Oversupply situations in the LED chip sector, and fierce competition in the general lighting sector over the past few years has aggravated the pricing situation in 2015. White LED chip prices for the large part have reflected a consistent downtrend over the past few years. Despite the ominous cloud hanging over the LED chip and general lighting sector, German LED chip manufacturer Osram announced last week it would be injecting in total EUR 2 billion (EUR 2.14 billion) in R&D and EUR 1 billion in LED manufacturing in the next five years.

Phoseon introduces the FireJet™ FJ240 UV LED curing solution, its highest UV power air-cooled light array. Providing an additional 33% of UV power compared to existing FireJet products, the new solution is designed for more demanding single pass printing and area curing applications. These products will be available November 2015 in 75/150/225/300mm window lengths with 40mm width and peak irradiance up to 8W/cm2.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) responded to IES TM-30-15 with NEMA LSCR-PP 1-2015 Light Source Color Rendition. The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recently published TM-30-15 IES Method for Evaluating Light Source Color Rendition. NEMA has produced a position paper, Light Source Color Rendition, in response to this document.

A team of Florida State University materials researchers has developed a new type of light-emitting diode, or LED, using an organic-inorganic hybrid that could lead to cheaper, brighter and mass produced lights and displays in the future.

STG Aerospace, the pioneering aircraft cabin lighting company, is delighted to announce that following evaluation of all the available aftermarket LED lighting systems, leading Spanish charter airline Air Europa has chosen liTeMood® for retrofitting its fleet of 737-800 aircraft.

Acuity Brands, Inc.​​, a market leader in providing indoor and outdoor lighting and energy management solutions, announced a new LightFlex™ CCT concept system​ from Sunoptics® that allows the patented daylighting system to achieve color temperatures similar to those utilized in commercial lighting systems – a first in the daylighting industry. This enhanced color quality creates a warmer, smoother, more uniform color, making it ideal for daylighting applications where enhanced aesthetics are desired.

Viewed from afar, Suzhou International Expo Center is like being enveloped by the bright moonlight, wearing a gorgeous silver-white silk skirt, with OSRAM’s lighting solution. Located in the central area of Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou International Expo Center occupies an area of 188,600 square meters where all kinds of mega events, such as national and international exhibitions, conferences and celebrations, are held.

The new headquarters of this designer luminaire manufacturers has a floor area of around 2500 square metres and accommodates a large showroom and generous meeting rooms and offices in addition to storerooms and social areas. Production facilities, warehousing, the dispatch centre, laboratories and workshops are also located at the new site. The lighting in the entire building is state of the-art with regard to technology, visual comfort and energy efficiency. Long-life LED light sources are used together with the connecDIM light management system with which the artificial lighting is regulated according to the amount of available daylight, creating the ideal conditions with optimum energy efficiency based on demand.